Sectionalized case for turbines and the like



Sept. 23, 1952 a; A. BIGGS 2,611,578

SECTIONALIZED CASE FOR TURBINES AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 4, 1947 a Sheets-Shea! 1 INVENTOR GEORGE fl. BIGGS Y 72mm. 4: TM",

ATTORNEYS P 23, 1952 s. -A. BIGGS 2,611,578-

SECTIONALIZED CASE FOR mamas AND THE LIKE Fnedoct. 4, 1947 a sheets-sum z I .26 a 42 K 4 0 INYENTOR 2 seems a. 81665 m...- d2 7am ATTORNEYS Sept. 23, 1952 0. A. BIGGS SECTIONALIZED CASE FOR TURBINES AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed 0.01,. 4, 1947 INVENTOR GEORGE fl. BIGGS BY mam- Tm ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 23, 1952 PATENT George -A. Biggs, Springfield, Ohio, assignor' to The-James Lefiel & Co., Springfield, Ohio r Application October 4, 1947, Serial No. 777,984

, 1. V V This invention relates to improvements: in spiral casings such as are employed with hydraulic turbines; centrifugal "pumps, blowers and'similar mechanisms. More particularly; this invention relates to an improved construction for spiral casings of this nature and to improved methods of manufacturing and assembling such casings.

j Inconnection with devices of the nature referred to'above, and most particularly in connection with hydraulic turbines, the unit sometimes becomes so. large that it is impractical or impossible -to fabricate the casing completely in a'manufacturingplant and ship it by the usual carrierto' the" site at which it'is to be used. This is due to the fact that bridge clearances, tunnel sizes, track spacings and other factors all operateto limit the size, of articles which can 'be shippedoverany given route.

"ln' such cases it-is customary tosectionalize the-casing so it-may be shipped in parts and assembled after arriving at its destination. This greatly simplifies the shipping and'installation of very large units but has other definite disadvantages. Oneof these disadvantages ismost evident'in 'case of water Wheel installationsor hydraulic turbines wherein there is built into the casing of the unit :a deviceknown in the art as a speed ring and'which consists of acagelike device I having vanestherein which are employed for guidingthe fluid in its flow from the casing to the wheel, or for controlling the rate of fluid flow through the casing. r

Speed rings as referred to above are generally formed integrally with the casing and when the casingris sectionalized, the speed ring isalso di-- videdinto sections and eachpart of the divided casing contains apart of'the speed ring. Then,-

whenithe .several parts. of the casing are assembled there-must be flangesand bolt holes provided not only in the casing but in the speed ring as well forsecuring the severalparts together into-a rigid unit. Usually, .the arrangementand shape of a speed ring is not particularly adapted for being fitted with flanges or. lugs of this nature and the bolts which tie thev parts of the speed ring together are in inaccessible places this sizelthe'outerpartis formed of a plurality 2 Claims. (Cl. 253-420) of sheet metaljseg'n'ients which aresometimes riveted, but are'usually welded, in place. Welding together of these parts requires, for ease and economy construction, that they be,.forme d;of a readily weldablesteel. If the speedringrisan integral'part of such a unit thenit also must be formed of I steel. This-is a substantially I more x ns c u ti n hani t speed ,rn couldbe formed of -casti iron or sorne other inexpensive or; easily machinable material. Z A s till. further disadvantage which obtains when casings and speed rings ofthe type referred to herein are ,sectionalized 'as a single unit-is t at th Pl Q ',.t .se ti i s tire through the unitso that theonly materialremin t se e l. par p ilea n eed ringftogether arethef bolts. Itwill be evident that in crtaininstances as, for example, a water, wheel operating. under a very high head,or at high speeds and thus subject to -vibration, this would 'be 'a' detriment to'the life of the installaw ion.

' Accordingly, a primary object of this invention isto provide an'lTimproved construction for the spiral case of a hydraulic turbine, pump, blower orthelilse. 7 f

Another object 'is to provide an improved construction for ,-'a spiral casing of such a size that it must be sectionalized and in connection with which a speedfring is to be employed.

-Still, another object is the provisionof an improved sectionalized spiral casing and a method of manufacturing thesanie which results in a less expensive product but which isl the full equivalent of, or better than, casing'constructed according to prior; art methods." 1 l j These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent upon',,reference to the following descriptiontaken' iri'ic onnection with;

the accompanying drawings in which! I Figure l is an 'elevational View of a spiral essJ-. .mg and speed" ring fabricated ,according to the principles ofthis invention and prior to 'the'asw' semblingthereof;

Figure 2 shows the parts of Figure 1 afterftliey' have been assembled;

nection "with this invention;

Figure .4 is 'a section taken the line-fll4 1 of Figure v2. and shows the appearance of the asseinbledipasing and speed ring along the part ing plan'ebetween adjacent sections of thecas .Figure 5 isa sectional view taken-0n the lin '55 of Figure 2 and showing an adjustable strut placed in the casing to facilitate the assembling of the speed ring and casing;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but shows the casing and speed ring in the process of being assembled and with the casing expanded by means of the strut therein;

Figure 7 is a view showing the development of one of. the seginentsof the. casingrland Figure 8 Shows the segment after it has been shaped'prior to the welding thereof in position in the casing.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show a scroll type casing for a hydraulic turbine or the like wherein the casing comprises a first part In having an inlet connection l2,and a second part M which is adapted to besecured to the part ID to form the completed casing as shown in Figure 2. Each of-the par-ts l8 and I4 have flanges as at Iii through which the bolts l8 are passed when the lpasing parts are placed together in order to hold the assembly rigidly together.

Eachof-the-parts l0 and I4 also comprisesa rim member 20.which, when the casing parts are secured ---together define the central opening 22 of the casing. As will be seen in Figures 1 and 2 the rim members 20 are provided with a plurality of bolt holes 24 and, when the casing is assembled cap screwsare placed inthe bo1tholes24 and intoengagement withthethreaded holes 26 extendingaround the periphery; of a speed ring'28.

The 'speedring ZB seen in perspective in Figure 3 comprises upper and lowerplates 30 between which extend a plurality of stay vanes'32. These vanes maybe formed integrally with V the speed ring, may; be rigidly secured thereto, or may be adjustable relative-to the speed ring according to inclividual preferenee, the nature of the instaldene. tur ne nd the particular se ic to which it isto be put generally being the conll ng a t rn an a etherim members 30 e; gi e at e to oneamth rand a lw ll b seen Fi urer eachpeutiu o scamp etcly around their periphery.

After the casing and speed ring havebeeni smbied a run i at n su t ble ype, as, inca by he do -da flout ine at. Figure 2 ay bemu e i i ecemr l e en n fifi nth speed uins The haitnoi herunner-may ea u f one-side fthe ssemble ua ins t a dri en the fluid e tu b e-a d unner ma pass ou the ot er. ide 0f t e casin The ion. oi. th cas ng: a d peed; rin is. better sh w Fi ure sand. 5 where itvw s n thatthe. r msifl of the c si g. a e stee ars ang es. bent; oiziab cated t he prop ion an to whichtar iwelde as at "4B. the arcuate segmen s o the ca ngl Ehesesmen s are pre rably eve yw ere a ound t e asing. ionized as ires ent niz rustumpicones and are circular in cross section in order-to; proide urt e stran est constructiouiand fort-he greatest fluid passage with an inimumof m e he. shaping o the segments ll-toe circular ross secti n is. o particul adv a c nection w th the. instautr n ent oniinvthat it permits the yielding apart of theriznsnzfl for receiving the speed ring 28 when the unitis assembled.

At each end of-the sections lfland l4nthe flanges 16 are secured by welding them to the last segment of the casing and to the rim members 20.

Due to the-fact that thesegments and rims throu h t e will warp somewhat when the welding of the Segments and rims together has been completed and the unit cools it has been found desirable to place within the casing and bearing close to the rim members 20 a plurality of expan-sible struts as shown at 44 in Figure 5. These are spaced around the casing as indicated by the numerals 44 in .Figures 1 and 2.

Each of .the struts consistioia center turnbuckle 46 which is oppositely threaded at its opposite ends with a pair of rods 48 that are in axial alignment and which extend across the casing ina line parallel with the axis of the speed ring 28.

The struts 44 not only serve to provide support for the casing during its transportation and prior to the assembling thereof to protect it from damage but are highly useful when the casing and speed ring are brought together. This is shown in Figure 6 wherein the strut 44 is expanded to provide iorvthe spaces indicated at. 5.0.. between the rim members 20 of the casing and the. rim members 30 of the speed ring... It will bear parent that the assembling oithe. speedring in the casing can be accomplished veryreadily even through the casing. has beenjbadlywwarpecl during the welding thereof.

After the casin and speed ring are properly aligned the struts may be adjusted to pull the rim members-20 tightly against. the speed ring 30 thereby to hold the parts together until the bolts 18 in the casing and the bolts 52 connectingmthe rim members. 20 and 30ers placed in position. Thereafter, the rods 48 are either cutor burned from the casing and the places where they .were welded can be smoothed out by a portable grinding machine if so desired.

It will be apparent that theassembling of the casing and speed ring into asinglevunit-oan be carried out relatively easily and all of the; connecting bolts may be tightened ,by or inary wrenches.

t will a so b vident; that. th ross-.- sec ion. of the speed; ringasseenin, Figures 4,; S and-o is, 0 a ve s m c nfiguration wh e vv -itzeen emanufactured by simplemach n ng B ce Hes. Furt e mor since. .the,sp ed ring is notamintegral part of v he c s g but is iabr atedfi parately therefro i ma be fo med of Va ifferent rial. a for exe p dcast iron wh clrresults. in a substantial r du ion. i tbe cost thereof- It ring as shown in Figure :2;.is not entirely dependent upon bolt 7 in i tension... for. retaining: the

will be notedthat the assembledcasing and speed unit assembled but that, the continuous .upperiand lower rims of .the-speed ring. act as. structural members to preventtheoasing from pulling apart. h s p v des a. Substantially greater: section. of it hthanoouldhe provided; by thenumber of bolts which could be placed around the flanges It should also be noted thatthe forming of the segmentsifl of the. casing-tobe circular in cross section operates to provide for a strong casingbecause there is no tendency for thesegments to .changetheir shape under thepressure of-the water inthe casing, and that their-frusto-eon-ical shape makes for easy forming and weldingof the segments and assists in making the strut members efiective for spreading or closing the casing about the speed ring.

I understoqd. that.-. it is adaptable to other devices having large casings and to other installations having speed rings of other types, the essential feature in connection with the speed ring being that it is fabricated independently of the casing.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions and accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a hydraulic turbine construction comprising a tubular casing and speed ring member having a fluid inlet and outlet for controlling the flow of liquid to the runner of a turbine, an improved sectionalized structure readily assembled or disassembled which consists of a casin having a first part, a second part and a third part, said first part comprising a plurality of intercommunicating frusto-conical tubular sections united together and having arcuate inner sides, an inlet connection to one of said sections, said plurality of tubular sections being secured along their arcuate inner sides to a pair of spaced semi-circular rim members, said first part forming a unitary semi-circular structure, said second part comprising a semi-circular tubular casing comprising a plurality of intercommunicating frusto-conical sections united together and having arcuate inner sides attached to a pair of spaced semi-circular rim members which are complementary to said rim members on said first part, flanges on the abutting ends of said rim members for fitting said first and second part members together to form a spiral shaped tubular casing, said third part comprising a speed ring member having spaced annular plate members which are united together by circumferentially spaced stay vanes. said spaced plates on said speed ring having means around the periphery thereof for fastening the same to the said rim members, and said parts being secured together to form a unitary spiral shaped hydraulic turbine structure.

2. In a hydraulic turbine construction comprising a tubular casing and speed ring member having a fluid inlet and outlet for controlling the I flow of liquid to the runner of a turbine, an improved sectionalized structure readily assembled or disassembled which consists of a casing having a first part, a second part and a third part, said first part comprising a plurality of intercommunicating frusto-conical tubular sections united together and having arcuate inner sides, an inlet connection to one of said sections, said plu- I rality of tubular sections being secured alonfs their arcuate inner sides to a pair of spaced semicircular rim members, said first part forming a unitary semi-circular structure, said second part comprising a semi-circular tubular casing comprising a plurality of intercommunicating frustoconical sections united together and having arcuate inner sides attached to a pair of spaced semicircular rim member which are complementary to said rim members on said first part, flanges on the abutting ends of said rim members for fitting said first and second part members together to form a spiral shaped tubular casing, said third part comprising a speed ring member having spaced annular plate members which are united together by circumferentially spaced stay vanes, said spaced plates on said speed ring having means around the periphery thereof for fastening the same to the said rim members, at least one of said frusto-conical sections having adjustable strut means for aligning the same with said speed ring, and said parts being secured together to form a unitary spiral shaped I hydraulic turbine structure.

GEORGE A. BIGGS.

REFERENCES CITED The following" references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

